Charter schools get the vote; bill now goes to Gov. Bryant’s desk

After two years of struggle, a bill to make it easier to create charter schools is on its way to Gov. Phil Bryant.

The State Senate voted 34-18 Wednesday to approve House Bill 369, which widens legal authority for charter schools.

Senate Education Committee Chairman Gray Tollison, an Oxford Republican, says he had hoped to preserve more elements of the Senate proposal in a compromise with the House. But he said senators decided to adopt the House bill rather than risk failure for a second straight year.

House members approved the bill Tuesday. Bryant, a Republican, says he’ll sign it.

Boards in districts graded A, B and C would get vetoes over charter schools in their boundaries. Students couldn’t cross district lines to attend a charter school in another district.